Caregivers get a shot at a free cruise

A lucky caregiver will receive a vacation cruise for two and care for their family member as first prize in a contest offered through a partnership between the Burbank-based Home Instead Senior Care, the Stroke Assn. of Southern California and the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center.

Burbank and Toluca Lake residents are invited to nominate family caregivers — or themselves — for the opportunity to win a free five-night, six-day Caribbean cruise for two. The caregiver must be providing care for a loved one who is 55 or older.

In addition, each of four runners-up will receive a gift certificate to a local spa and respite care for their family member.

Entry deadline is Oct. 31, with the winners scheduled to be announced on Nov. 15.

The Caregiver Stress Management Cruise on the Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas is scheduled to set sail from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Feb. 25 and return to dock on March 2. Stops will be made in Labadee, Haiti, and Falmouth, Jamaica.

In addition to the cruise, the winning recipient and guest will receive airfare to and an overnight stay in Fort Lauderdale. Also in the package will be free respite care from a Home Instead Senior Care professional caregiver for the winner's senior loved one for the duration of the cruise.

For more information about the contest or Home Instead Senior Care, call (818) 843-8688 or visit www.homeinstead.com/194.

Comedy night benefits nonprofits

It will be a laughing matter when the Burbank Assn. of Realtors Community Service Foundation presents its charity comedy night on Thursday at the Realtors Hall in Burbank.

Those who watch HGTV's “House Hunters” will be familiar with this year's host — Suzanne Whang. Design enthusiasts might not realize that Whang also does comedy and won the Best Up & Coming Comedian Award at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival in 2002.

The Realtors foundation is the charitable arm of the Burbank Assn. of Realtors. It has given donations to Habitat for Humanity and scholarships to high school seniors. Karen Volpei is the comedy night chairwoman, assisted by Marion Chase, Linda Roberts and Dan Soderstrom.